Harness shaft for looms



June 17, 1930.

w. E. WALL 1,764,917

HARNESS SHAFT FOR LooMs Filed Aug. 21, 1929 @V4-4- A l 1 W x A IV/ril.. l, [j l 16 G, A5

INVENTOR.

BY B I n A,

A TTORNE Y.

Patented June 17, 1930 PATE WILLIAM E. WALL, OF LANCASTER, SOUTH CAROLINA HARNESS snnrfrron LooMs Application inea August 21, 1929. serial No. 387,424.

My invention relates to improvements in harness shafts for looms.

In accordance with my invention, I provide a harness comprising upper and lower shafts. Each shaft is preferably formed in one piece and is preferably made of wood, although it may be formed of metal or other material. The shaft is provided with a longitudinal slot to receive the cotton harness 1o or heddles. The attaching elements which connect the harness shafts with the movable parts of the loom are out of contact with the cotton heddles whereby they are not 'subjected to the action of rust nor become injured by the attaching elements. The yarn works better through the cotton heddles and a weaver can operate a greater number of looms. The construction is simple and durable and not liableto derangements.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a side elevation o f a harness embodying my invention, Figure 2 is an end elevation of the same,

Figure 3 is a transverse section, upon an enlargedvscale taken on line 3 3 of Figure 1, and,

Figure 4 is a transverse section taken on line 4--4 of Figure l.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration, is shown a preferred embodi- Vment of my invention, the numeral 5 designates upper and lower harness shafts, which are identical. Each shaft is preferably formed from an integral piece of wood having a longitudinal opening or slot 6 formed therein. The shaft may be formed in sections, and may also be formed of metal or like material. iThe upper and lower walls of this slot are preferably rounded, as shown at 7 and 8. The slot is closed at its opposite ends.

Attaching elements, such as eyes 9, are secured to the harnessl shafts and are connected with the movable parts of the loom which reciprocates the harness. Particular attention is called to the fact that the attaching elements or eyes 9 do not openings or slots 6. l

The numeral 10 designates the cotton harness or heddles, having the yarn receiving eyes or loops 11. The top ends of the heddles are continuous and are woven or tied into a longitudinal rib 12, serving to connect all of the heddles. The lower endslof the heddles are tied together and also tied or woven into a longitudinal rib 13. These ribs are arranged within the openings or slots 6.Y The longitudinal displacement of therheddles is prevented by cords 14, attached to the ends of theribsand passed through transverse `openings 15V in the ends of the shafts 5, as shown. By arranging the ends of theheddles with the slots lor openings 6, they are permanently spaced from the metallic attaching elements 9 and hence are not subjected to the action of rust or to be otherwise cut or injured by engagement with the metallic attaching elements. Any suitable form of fabric harness may be used.

In assembling the cotton heddles upon the harness shafts, one lower end of the heddlesis Vpassed through the opening or slot 6, in the upper shaft and the same end of the heddles may be p'assed through the opening or slot 6 in the lower shaft, and the free lower ends of the heddles are then tied together to produce the lower rib. VThe cords 14 are proj ectinto the OFFICE now passed through the openings 15. The i upper and lower bars of each shaft are tied together by stout cord 16, preferably arranged near the eyes 9 and at the center. These cords are passed around the bars and extend through the harness, as shown.

The heddles are in the form of closed loops, and slidably receive the inner portions or bars of the harness shafts, permitting restricted relative movements between the heddles and the shafts.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention, herewith shown ahd described, is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention, or the scope of the subjoined claim.

Having thus described Vmy invention, I claim v A harness for looms comprising separate upper and lower harness shafts, each shaft embodying a pair of spaced wooden shaft sections rigidly connected at their ends only for providing a relatively wide continuous slot between the same, fibrous heddles having their ends secured together and formedl into ribs, the heddles forming an endless structure, the sides of the endless structure engaging the opposite sides of the inner Y shaft sections and the ends ofthe endless structure passing through the slots with the ribs arranged within the slots, the endless structure and ribs being free from clamping engagement with the shaft sections so that the `heddles are capable of partaking of limi'ted movements upon the inner shaft sections in a direction longitudinally of the heddles due to the slight rolling action of the endless structure upon the inner shafts, and cords attached to the ends of the ribs and secured to the inner shaft sections to limit the relative movement of the heddles7 and metal yactuating elements secured to the outer sides of the outer shaft sections and thereby being free from engagement with the fibrous heddles. u 0 In testimony whereof I aix my signature. l

` WILLIAM E. WALL. 

